weedtool.com now available to farmers in eastern Canada

Monsanto Canada Inc.
2/3/2011

(Winnipeg, Manitoba – Feb 3, 2011) – Following up on the successful launch of its online weed resistance risk assessment tool for western Canadian farmers, Monsanto Canada today announced the same tool has been developed and is now ready for use by farmers in eastern Canada.

Located on the Web at www.weedtool.com, the goal of this new, web-based resource is to help farmers gauge their risk of developing glyphosate-resistant weeds within their farming operation and provide them with strategies to better manage those risks without limiting yield potential.The tool is part of Monsanto’s ongoing commitment to product stewardship.

“Roundup® brand herbicides are an important part of a farmer’s weed control program and we want to ensure they remain a sustainable solution for farmers well into the future,” said Mark Lawton, technology development lead, eastern Canada. “Our commitment is to give farmers as much information as possible to help them reduce the risk of glyphosate resistance developing on their farm.”

The risk of developing glyphosate-resistant weeds involves numerous factors within a farming operation. The online resource accounts for these factors by having growers answer ten questions. When those questions are complete, the tool calculates the risk of developing glyphosate resistance on an individual field-by-field basis and then highlights Best Management Practices (BMPs) for reducing the farmer’s risk of selecting for glyphosate-resistant weeds. In addition to the situation specific recommendations of the assessment, users have access to additional weed resistance management resources within the site.

Monsanto Canada collaborated with several weed science academics in eastern Canada and relied on their expertise to assist in the creation of this tool.Academics from the University of Guelph, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries all participated in the development of www.weedtool.com.

“Although limited to a small geography, glyphosate resistant weeds are present in eastern Canada and a concern for many growers.This new assessment tool will help give growers an indication of their risk for developing glyphosate resistance on their farms and identify best management practices that can be implemented in their cropping systems,” said Dr. Peter Sikkema, research scientist and professor at the University of Guelph. “Having the opportunity to work on the development of this new assessment tool, I am confident in its ability to help farmers assess their risk and allow them to make any necessary changes in their farming operations.”

www.weedtool.com was first launched in the United States in 2007. Farmers can assess their risk of developing glyphosate- resistant weeds by visiting www.weedtool.com

Monsanto Canada is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology – focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of world’s natural resources such as water and energy.Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.